Mounds View Public Schools — Transcript
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Capital Projects Levy for Technology, Safety, and Security
Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Adoption
Policy Revisions and Deletions
Superintendent's Year-End Evaluation
Legislative Updates and District Operations
Votes (4)
Resolution detailing capital projects levy for technology safety and security and calling for a special election (Item 4.1)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:15:43] · Seconded by Unknown [00:15:44]
Superintendent Lennox presented the need for a dedicated funding source for technology, safety, and security, currently funded from the general fund. He highlighted recent technology audits, the threat of cybercriminals, dated security equipment (cameras, radios, visitor management), and the desire for upgraded in-school communication (digital displays) and electronic door locks. He also noted needs for refreshing learning technology such as interactive displays, student/staff devices, and STEAM equipment. Community surveys, conducted by Morris Leatherman Company, showed significant support for funding projects up to $10 million. The resolution would place a ballot question in November to provide this dedicated funding, thereby preserving the general fund for classroom needs. Board member Chrissy Gline reiterated the thoroughness of the district's audit and the importance of staying current with ever-changing technology and security risks.
Update on Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget (Item 4.2)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:27:03] · Seconded by Unknown [00:27:05]
Superintendent Lennox and Director of Finance Paula Steel presented the proposed budget, acknowledging delays due to state legislative special sessions. Lennox explained the district's conservative budgeting philosophy, projecting revenues cautiously and anticipating expenses. He clarified that the general fund's projected deficit (expenditures exceeding revenue) is intentional, accommodating multi-year projects and setting aside funds for inflation and rising costs in areas like personnel, transportation, and facilities. He highlighted that over 75% of the general fund is dedicated to student support and instruction. The budget incorporated updated state funding assumptions, including a 2.74% per pupil basic formula increase indexed to inflation. Board members Yolanda and Jim praised the fiscally conservative approach, emphasizing its role in maintaining stable class sizes and minimizing impact on students and families, despite external financial challenges.
Approval of Policy Revisions (Item 5.1)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [00:29:35] · Seconded by Unknown [00:29:35]
School Board Vice Chair Heidi Danielson reported on the policy subcommittee's work, which reviewed all board and district policies since last fall. The subcommittee, including Alyssa Darren Nelson and Amy Jones, aimed to align language, update policies to reflect current board processes, and review evaluation dates. Most revisions involved minor language changes, such as updating to reflect the 'equity promise' and using gender-neutral language. Two policies, BG0204 (feedback from the public) and EG5150 (naming school district facilities), were recommended for deletion because they were no longer applicable or had been on hold. Board member Jim acknowledged the 'long and arduous work' and the necessity of updating antiquated policies.
Superintendent's Year-End Evaluation (Item 5.2)
Dissent: None
School Board Vice Chair Heidi Danielson provided an update on Superintendent Lennox's year-end evaluation, which followed a mid-year review. She reported that the board was overwhelmingly grateful for his leadership, noting that all seven district operational goals for the year were achieved. Feedback from board members praised his proactive approach to goals and effective implementation. Danielson summarized his management style as building and communicating a clear shared vision, fostering a culture of equity, collaboration, and innovation, aligning resources with district priorities, and balancing competing interests while keeping student outcomes at the center. The board expressed satisfaction with his and his team's work and looked forward to his continued leadership.
Notable Quotes (11)
Our schools are safe, but they could be safer. I think our school district has recognized that we are now not just Mounds View, but school districts generally one of the top targets for cyber criminals.
So tonight as a board you have the opportunity to uh approve this resol resolution which will put a question on the ballot in in November that will provide dedicated funding for school safety. It will provide needed funding for the learning technology we talked about and at the same time then it will preserve the general fund and the funding that already exists that can be focused on our classrooms.
And I think that was the right direction to go to really look at what needs we had and um really get an assessment of of um risks for our students and our staff and their data. So um glad to hear that you know we've done the homework. We know the reasons.
We really do take a conservative approach to budgeting. So so we intentionally look at at revenue um and and we don't over project. We don't expect more than we think we we would get. We we keep that, you know, really conservative. Uh also with expenses, if anything, we roll, we probably might spend a little bit more, so we better budget for that just in case. That philosophy has paid dividends for us.
More than 75% of our general fund budget is actually focused on student support and instruction. And we have the graphic on on page eight with the dollar that it kind of explains that. But that is an important focus of the district and and will continue to be um well into the future.
I appreciate that because we've been able to keep class sizes within that same range. uh I've been on the board now this is my fourth year. I feel like class sizes have have stayed in the same range. we've been keeping costs um stagnant for families on items like transportation despite transportation costs rising.
We reviewed all of our board policies um and district policies with the goal of aligning the language, updating policies to reflect um current board processes and reviewing our evaluation dates.
Again, most of these policies had um minor language changes to them um updating them to reflect the language of the equity promise um updating um uh I think we had some he she and we updated it to they you know some a lot of them were very minor policies um but anyway we would recommend that um um we adopt all of the policies listed here that have been reviewed by the board
no just to thank you to Heidi and Alyssa for doing this this is kind of long and arduous work but um when we looked at our policies um some of them just didn't apply much anymore. Some of them didn't make great sense. Some of the language and references were antiquated. So, um, you know, something good to do every 10 years or so.
I just start by saying as in past evaluations, the board is overwhelmingly grateful for Superintendent Lennox leadership of the district. And again, this year um we we've seen um so many great things happening in our schools. All seven district operational goals were achieved for this year.
We we overwhelmingly feel that Superintendent Lennox builds and communicates a clear shared vision for the district, fosters a culture of equity, collaboration, and innovation, aligns resources with district goals and priorities, and balances competing interests while keeping student outcomes at the center.
Ordinances & Resolutions (5)
Formal document approved by the board to place a levy question on the November ballot for dedicated funding for technology, safety, and security.
Proposed budget document for the upcoming school year, outlining projected revenue and expenditures across various funds.
Policy recommended for deletion, related to public feedback.
Policy recommended for deletion, related to naming school district facilities.
General term for all board and district policies that underwent review and revision.